City proposes new plan for Los Angeles Zoo management

In recent years, the Los Angeles Zoo has managed to open its $40 million Elephants of Asia exhibit, the LAIR reptile house and is in the process of completing its Rainforest of the Americas habitat - amid staggering city deficits.

Those major projects were simple compared to figuring out how the city should actually manage the 1,100-acre facility.

After one failed effort to turn over management of the zoo to its biggest booster, city leaders are trying to revive a proposal to at least partially privatize the publicly owned animal attraction.

New talks are under way to give the nonprofit Greater Los Angeles Zoo Association a greater role at the facility while not violating any city rules or eliminating city workers from their jobs.

City Administrative Officer Miguel Santana said last week the goal of the proposal is to save the city about $1.5 million a year. He hopes to include details of a new proposal in the next budget going to the City Council in April.

"Our goal is to strengthen the role of GLAZA so they will be able to do a better job in fundraising to provide more revenue for the zoo," Santana said.

"It is not the same as we were proposing, but it looks at how we can strengthen the role of GLAZA and get the city back to its core services."

Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa has pushed for changes in the management of the zoo as a way to save money and focus on the city's core service responsibilities.

But city employee unions have fought any effort that could potentially lead to the loss of city jobs. Also, the City Attorney's Office issued a legal opinion saying that city workers cannot be supervised by noncity workers.

But the City Attorney's Office did offer some alternatives - including one where the zoo continues as a separate city agency with the zoo director responsible for city employees.

At the same time, other zoo operations - including advertising, marketing and parking - could be turned over to GLAZA control, similar to the way it now operates the concessions at the facility.

GLAZA President Connie Morgan said they are waiting to see a formal presentation from the city.

"Whatever we can do to assist the zoo, we will," Morgan said. "So far, we are not part of the process, but we will do whatever is in the best interest of the zoo."

GLAZA had submitted a formal proposal to take over the zoo operation, but when the city failed to act, it withdrew it to see what alternative proposals the city could come up with.

Richard Lichtenstein, co-chair of the GLAZA board of trustees, said an expanded formal role would be significant in helping the group in its fundraising activities.

"Beyond fundraising, there are ways we can market and brand the zoo name that will generate other money for the zoo," Lichtenstein said. "The things that are being considered are very important in terms of trying to let GLAZA, within the current structure, do a better job."

GLAZA has dramatically increased its fundraising, from an annual average of less than $5 million to more than $19.4 million last year, according to its annual report.

"We had an exceptional year, but with more tools, we will continue to do good numbers," Lichtenstein said. "But, without those tools, we can't do more."

But, despite those efforts, the zoo has had trouble making ends meet operationally and as a result, it has had to raise rates each of the last five years. And, without any changes, the city is looking at raising rates for each of the next three years.